Rwandan miners are ditching Tanzania’s port of Dar es salaam over theft and opting for the port of Mombasa in Kenya. The miners have claimed that their minerals are being stolen at the Tanzania port while in transit to overseas customers according to the Rwandan newspaper the New Times.
Rwanda’s leading exporter of precious stones, Mineral Supply Africa ltd (MSA) is among the firms making the shift. The firm confirmed that it has moved to the port of Mombasa even though the route is longer and thus costs more.
MSA lost minerals worth 2 million dollars four months ago at the port of Dar es Salaam. While another firm, Trading Services Logistics (TSL) lost two containers, each containing 12 tonnes of Coltan (a precious metal used in various electronics), with a combined value of over $1 million destined for customers in Japan and Belgium; the thefts are yet to be resolved reports the New Times.
Dar es Salaam being the nearest port to Rwanda receives 70 percent of the country’s maritime trade while the remaining 30 percent is done through the Mombasa port.
Coincidentally, Kenya Port Authorities (KPA) is investing heavily into improving its facilities and efficiency aimed at boosting its cargo volumes. All is not lost though as the miners hope that the new President Magufully will do something about the port.
